Paradigm Shift

For old times sake

Jasmine stretched out on one of the poolside recliners. Sighing as her head throbbed.

"So what did you want to talk to me about without Roman and Seth hearing?" she asked

"When I told you that found it the hardest to be around you I never told you why"

"Ok?" Jasmine mumbled

"Before I even met you, I smelt you. Your scent. It affected me more than any other person's scent. I mean, it literally immobilised me. When I met you, I was genuinely terrified of how I'd react. I was afraid of attacking you. So I dealt with it by avoiding you, but the more I avoided you, the more envious I was of Roman and Seth. They could be close to you without being affected by your scent and I was jealous of the relationship they were forming with you"

"So what changed?" Jasmine asked. "Because I noticed you suddenly spent time with me"

"When you fell and cut your head open at the performance centre. The towel Seth gave you to catch the blood...he brought it back to me and...well, I...have you ever heard of nose blindness?"

"Yeah" Jasmine replied "When your nose gets desensitized to a particular smell."

"That's how I got over your scent" Dean continued "By using the towel"

"Wait, a second" Jasmine said. "Are you saying that you and Seth planned the accident?"

"No. Seth saw you having an accident, but he didn't know where or when it would happen" Dean corrected

"It was Frederick's idea. The nose blindness thing" Dean explained. "He knew how I feel about you and he just wanted to help m-"

"Wait" Jasmine interrupted "what do you mean 'the way I feel about you?'

Dean cursed himself. "I care about you. A lot. I've tried to hide it. Deal with it in my own way..."

Jasmine smiled. "I thought about you a lot when I was taken hostage. It wasn't until I was away from you I realised just how much I really liked you"

"Seriously?" Dean asked

"Yes" Jasmine confirmed. "I was in denial at first because of everything that had happened with Damien, but even now, those feelings are still there"

"But you're attracted to Roman, right?" Dean asked.

Jasmine nodded "Yeah. But with you, it's deeper than that. It's an emotional connection. I see beyond that act of yours, underneath you're a lot more sensitive and I want to get to know the real you"

Dean could still feel pain coming from Jasmine and he couldn't ignore it anymore. "Are you in pain?"

"I've been getting migraines" Jasmine complained as she moved her head to rest against the head rest

"Do you want me to get Roman?" Dean asked

Jasmine nodded and Dean left. Roman came in just seconds later, quickly followed by Seth, who was wearing swim shorts, and made a beeline for the deep end of the pool.

"Where are you hurting, baby girl?" Roman asked as he sat beside Jasmine on her recliner

"My head on the left side just above my eye" Jasmine replied

Roman placed his hand over the area and Jasmine shut her eyes as she felt his hand throb. "I wasn't sure if migraines were something you could heal."

"According to Dr. Nyle, the only thing I can't heal is broken bones" Roman explained

"Is there is anything you miss about being mortal?" Jasmine asked.

Her question caught them all off guard, but they were glad she was curious. By being curious, it meant she was interested.